ERIK ERIKSON STAGES OF PSYCHOSOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

Description
Basic Conflict
This stage is from new born to 18 months.
During this time, the infant learns how trustworthy the world around them is
and looks to their parents for caretaking and ability to trust, if the parents do
not meet these needs and comfort the infant in times of stress, this child will
1. Infancy
Trust vs Mistrust develop a mistrust of the world around them and anxiety and fear.
New Born – 18 Months
Infancy is crucial to our psychosocial development. Infant are entirely
reliant on caregivers specially on mother for warmth, love, stability and
nurturing.

During this stage, children are working on developing independence with

their physical skills.
Parents begin giving children some degree of choice letting them to perform
2. Early Childhood/Toddler
Autonomy Vs Shame and Doubt actions on their own.
1 – 3 years old
Toddlers who are encourage to explore and do things on their own will
develop autonomy, whereas those who are overly restricted will feel shame
and doubt, leading to lack of independence and confidence.

Initiative leads to a sense of purpose and can help develop leadership skills;
failure result in guilt.
Kids, who don’t initiative at this age may become fearful of trying new
3. Pre School things.
Initiative vs. Guilt
3 – 6 years old Begin to direct play and social interactions to our parents our behavior may
seem vigorous, overly assertive and yet we are exploring our interpersonal
self.

4. School Age Industry vs Inferiority Teacher plays an important role in our continued growth within this stage.
6 – 12 years old Peers and social interactions are increasingly relevant in the development of
self-esteem and feelings of pride arise as we successfully perform or
 complete tasks.
In this stage children learns to be productive and to accept evaluation of
their efforts or becomes discouraged and feels inferior or incompetent.

During this stage, adolescents search for a sense of self and personal
identity, through an intense exploration of personal values, beliefs and
goals.
This is a major stage in development where the child has to learn the roles,
5. Adolescences he/she will occupy as an adult.
12 – 18 years old Identity vs Confusion This stage adolescent will re-examine his/her identity and try to find out
exactly who he/she is.
During this stage the body image of the adolescent changes.
Erikson claims that the adolescent may feel uncomfortable about their body
for a while until they can adapt and “grow into” the change.

In this stage a person develops the ability to have intimate relationship with
others while maintaining a sense of independence.
During this stage they learn to share personal details and listen to others.
6. Young Adulthood
Intimacy vs Isolation Isolation is evident when poor or unhealthy relationship and social support
19 – 40 years old
are lacking.
Rejection is one reason you may isolate.

Generativity refers to making positive impact contributing to the world,

such as through raising children, mentoring others or engaging in
meaningful work.
Stagnation on the other hand represents feeling stuck and unproductive,
7. Middle Adulthood lacking sense of purpose.
Generativity vs Stagnation
40 – 65 years old The feeling of being useful in life, accomplishing something and
contributing to society.
We are proud of who we are, what we achieve, our children and who they
have become.

8. Later Adulthood Integrity vs Despair Success is in the belief that we have achieved our goals and found
65 – Death happiness, leading to the feeling of integrity.
Satisfied that life was well – lived.
Failure may be experienced as despair and regret over thing not done, not
completed or mistake made.
Regretting choices and missed opportunities.
Frightened about coming to an end of our life without a sense of having
lived well.